The Physics and Metaphysics of Primitive Stuff
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8396236 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Michael Esfeld (0000-0001-9456-3258, University of Lausanne), Dustin Lazarovici (0000-0002-1484-1172, Mathematical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences), Virginia Lam (0000-0002-4454-5382, University of Lausanne), Vincent Lam (0000-0001-5566-4769), Mario Hubert (0000-0002-1170-6020, University of Lausanne) |
| Year | 2017 |
| Volume | 68 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 133-161 |
| Publication date | 2017-03-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0007-0882 • E-ISSN: 1464-3537 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1093/bjps/axv026 |
| OpenAlex | W1904770147 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 19 |
| References cited | 29 |
The article sets out a primitive ontology of the natural world in terms of primitive stuff—that is, stuff that has as such no physical properties at all—but that is not a bare substratum either, being individuated by metrical relations. We focus on quantum physics and employ identity-based Bohmian mechanics to illustrate this view, but point out that it applies all over physics. Properties then enter into the picture exclusively through the role that they play for the dynamics of the primitive stuff. We show that such properties can be local (classical mechanics), as well as holistic (quantum mechanics), and discuss two metaphysical options to conceive them, namely, Humeanism and modal realism in the guise of dispositionalism. 1 Introduction 2 Primitive Ontology: Primitive Stuff 3 The Physics of Matter as Primitive Stuff 4 The Humean Best System Analysis of the Dynamical Variables 5 Modal Realism about the Dynamical Variables 6 Conclusion
Classical physics · Epistemology · Identity (music) · Metaphysics · Modal · Ontology · Philosophy of physics · Physics · Quantum · Quantum mechanics · Realism · Theoretical physics · Chemistry · Philosophy · Philosophy and History of Science · Philosophy and Theoretical Science · Quantum Mechanics and Applications
A Persistent Particle Ontology for Quantum Field Theory in Terms of the Dirac Sea
Which quantum foundations for the minimalist ontology framework
Stating Structural Realism
Super-Humeanism
Could Charge and Mass be Universals
Quantum pointillism with relational identity
Against the disappearance of spacetime in quantum gravity
Scientific realism
A proposal for a minimalist ontology
Super-Humeanism and physics
A challenge for Super-Humeanism
The (un)detectability of absolute Newtonian masses
Multi-field and Bohm’s theory
The physics and metaphysics of Tychistic Bohmian Mechanics
Regularity Comparativism about Mass in Newtonian Gravity
Interpreting the quantum mechanics of cosmology
Structuralism in the philosophy of physics
Scientific realism and underdetermination in quantum theory
Quantum Powers and Primitive Ontology
The Universe As We Find It
From an Ontological Point of View
Nature's Metaphysics
A better best system account of lawhood
Unified dynamics for microscopic and macroscopic systems
Symposium: Chance and Credence
The problem of ontology for spontaneous collapse theories
Are all particles real
Quantum physics without quantum philosophy
One world, one beable
Moderate structural realism about space-time
Quantum Mechanics and 3 N -Dimensional Space
Quantum Theory and Reality
The Ontology of Bohmian Mechanics
On the Common Structure of Bohmian Mechanics and the Ghirardi–Rimini–Weber Theory
Predictions and Primitive Ontology in Quantum Foundations
Distant Action in Classical Electromagnetic Theory
Quantum Humeanism, or
Ontological Relativity and Other Essays
| Unique citing works | 19 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 2,11 |
| Citation span | 2017 - 2026 (10) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 19 |